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Title: CONSERVATION OF NATURAL ENEMIES IN COTTON: COMPARATIVE SELECTIVITY OF ACETAMIPRID IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BEMISIA TABACI

Author
item Naranjo, Steven
item Akey, David

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2004
Publication Date: 2/15/2005
Citation: Naranjo, S.E., Akey, D.H. 2005. Conservation of natural enemies in cotton: comparative selectivity of acetamiprid in the management of bemisia tabaci. Pest Management Science 555-566.

Interpretive Summary: A two-year field study was conducted to evaluate the selectivity of acetamiprid for control of Bemisia tabaci in cotton compared with a proven selective regime based on the insect growth regulators (IGRs) pyriproxyfen or buprofezin. Acetamiprid was highly effective in controlling B. tabaci generally produced lower pest densities than the IGR regime. Univariate analyses indicated that nine of 17 taxa of arthropod predators were significantly depressed with the use of acetamiprid compared with an untreated control. Compared with results from independent, concurrent studies using mixtures of broad-spectrum insecticides at the same research site, acetamiprid depressed populations of fewer predator taxa, but for those taxa affected, reductions from acetamiprid were approximately equal in the majority of cases. Only four taxa were significantly reduced in the IGR regime compared with the untreated control and three of these were omnivores that function primarily as plant pests. Principal response curves analyses confirmed these patterns of population change for the entire predator community. Predator:prey ratios were generally depressed with the use of acetamiprid compared with both the IGR regime and the untreated control. Parasitism was unaffected or depressed slightly in all insecticide regimes compared with the control. Although highly efficacious for pest control, results suggest that acetamiprid would be a poor substitute for the IGRs in an integrated control program for B. tabaci in cotton.

Technical Abstract: The sweetpotato whitefly remains a significant pest of cotton in the southwestern US. The current integrated control system in Arizona is based on the use of selective insect growth regulators (IGRs) and biological control. However, due mainly to the relatively high cost of IGRs, growers are beginning to use acetamiprid, one of the newer neonicotinoid insecticides, in place of IGRs. This two-year field study was conducted to evaluate the comparative selectivity of acetamiprid for control of whitefly in cotton. Acetamiprid was highly effective in controlling whitefly. However, nine of 17 taxa of arthropod predators observed were significantly depressed with the use of acetamiprid including common species such big-eyed bugs, minute pirate bugs, green lacewing, Collops beetles, lady beetles and a predatory fly. Moreover, these impacts were about equal to those associated with mixtures of broad-spectrum insecticides. Predator to prey ratios were generally depressed with the use of acetamiprid compared with both the IGRs and the untreated control. Parasitism by aphelinid parasitoids was unaffected or depressed slightly in all insecticide regimes compared with the control. Although highly efficacious for pest control, our results suggest that acetamiprid would be a poor substitute for the currently used IGRs in an integrated control program for sweetpotato whitefly in cotton.